Black cut backs with bottom

[Ramon]

Pull the cue back slow and straight and trust you're in the correct line... Keep still and deliver the cue.

Practice

+10 to this !!!

[bolton-cueman]

its psychological in the sense that the OP is feeling the need to somehow change his technique to play this particular shot.

if he can pot it with plain ball / top - rules out sighting / aiming.

My money is on he's tightening up his grip. Wager anyone?

[tomwalker147]

Just practice, don't overcomplicate it. Get down the club and practice the shot over and over again.

[Burnpark]

That's what I am thinking, just got to keep practising until I have it mastered 😊

[ghost121]

Practise is the answer to most issues snooker related and we all have stuff that we find especially tricky. Yours just happens to be thin cuts with bottom. As long as your basic technique is ok, doesn't have to be perfect pro level, then intelligent practise will eventually pay off. But don't expect it to be a linear progression. I tend to find you can get worse as well as better for periods and you just have to have faith it will eventually come good and stick at it. Most people get out of snooker what they put in. Natural talent is largely a myth, although a few have it. The best players (and by that I mean consistent because flashes of brilliant play are largely useless) are the ones who graft the most with their brain switched on.

[guernseygooner]

Practise is the answer to most issues snooker related and we all have stuff that we find especially tricky. Yours just happens to be thin cuts with bottom. As long as your basic technique is ok, doesn't have to be perfect pro level, then intelligent practise will eventually pay off. But don't expect it to be a linear progression. I tend to find you can get worse as well as better for periods and you just have to have faith it will eventually come good and stick at it. Most people get out of snooker what they put in. Natural talent is largely a myth, although a few have it. The best players (and by that I mean consistent because flashes of brilliant play are largely useless) are the ones who graft the most with their brain switched on.

One of the most sensible posts for a while. Some people can look more 'natural' when playing, but not before thousands of hours at the table.

[Terry Davidson]

its psychological in the sense that the OP is feeling the need to somehow change his technique to play this particular shot.

if he can pot it with plain ball / top - rules out sighting / aiming.

My money is on he's tightening up his grip. Wager anyone?

I think this comment plus the one by jonny above are right on here. There is a bell curve related to power vs success with very low power shots being 'clutched' (gripping the cue too early and decelerating through the cueball) and at the high power end where any technical flaws like movement or again tightening the grip too early will show up.

At the top of the bell curve it's usually a medium-paced shot which makes potting more consistent.

The comments on here about aiming thicker or thinner are not good advice because then you are compensating for a flaw and now you have 2 things to think about. Do exactly what pottr advises and NEVER change your point of aim. Loose grip, slow backswing wins the day.

[markz]

I think this comment plus the one by jonny above are right on here. There is a bell curve related to power vs success with very low power shots being 'clutched' (gripping the cue too early and decelerating through the cueball) and at the high power end where any technical flaws like movement or again tightening the grip too early will show up.

At the top of the bell curve it's usually a medium-paced shot which makes potting more consistent.

The comments on here about aiming thicker or thinner are not good advice because then you are compensating for a flaw and now you have 2 things to think about. Do exactly what pottr advises and NEVER change your point of aim. Loose grip, slow backswing wins the day.

I try and keep away from the so called science of snooker as too much information is just confusing. I struggled on similar shots and always hit them thick like the OP and Oma. I could pot plain ball and top no problem, found the video I posted of Nic Barrow coaching a young kid and Nic mentioned the largest margin for error on these shots is the furthest knuckle and even used a chalk mark. This means playing the shot a little thinner.

I got on the practice table and played it for an hour a day for 3 days and now the only time I miss them is if I play a lazy shot. Might not work for others but worked for me so wanted to pass it on. Plus loads of practice like everyone keeps saying, the more you play a shot the more you learn from it.

[Burnpark]

Yep haha I have the exact same problem with the blue as well, about 90 percent of the time I hit it thick when I miss with screw. The worst part is you're always conscious of it when getting down on the shot but old habits always seem to stick haha.

Strangely enough I am fine with these shots, I feel comfortable in pushing the cue through on these shots but with the black I feel I am going to miss these now.

[Burnpark]

Good advice, this makes sense, I do feel I am trying to hit it harder or deliver the cue faster. I will practice a slower motion

[Burnpark]

its psychological in the sense that the OP is feeling the need to somehow change his technique to play this particular shot.

if he can pot it with plain ball / top - rules out sighting / aiming.

My money is on he's tightening up his grip. Wager anyone?

Good point. I will start hitting the ball softer until my confidence improves.

[tomwalker147]

I try and keep away from the so called science of snooker as too much information is just confusing. I struggled on similar shots and always hit them thick like the OP and Oma. I could pot plain ball and top no problem, found the video I posted of Nic Barrow coaching a young kid and Nic mentioned the largest margin for error on these shots is the furthest knuckle and even used a chalk mark. This means playing the shot a little thinner.

I got on the practice table and played it for an hour a day for 3 days and now the only time I miss them is if I play a lazy shot. Might not work for others but worked for me so wanted to pass it on. Plus loads of practice like everyone keeps saying, the more you play a shot the more you learn from it.

Spot on mate, i've said it before about pinks into the middle. I missed a couple in a match and it got in my head a little. Next couple of times I went to the club I dedicated time to practising that same shot. No need for any of us to beat ourselves up over a missed pot, just put the graft in so it doesn't happen again (or as regular).

[bolton-cueman]

Good point. I will start hitting the ball softer until my confidence improves.

I'm not a coach (not even a good player really) - so don't take anything I say as gospel.

All I know is that after years of playing (badly) I've made the most progress ever over the past 8 / 9 months since a pal of mine showed me the benefits of a light / loose grip, a slow, full back swing and letting the cue flow through rather than feeling tight and powering the cue through.

All I will say is don't adjust your aim to compensate for a bit of hiccup in your technique. Get to the bottom of the underlying issue. And for that I'd find a good coach, pay £20 or so for a session and he should put your right.

[markz]

I'm not a coach (not even a good player really) - so don't take anything I say as gospel.

All I know is that after years of playing (badly) I've made the most progress ever over the past 8 / 9 months since a pal of mine showed me the benefits of a light / loose grip, a slow, full back swing and letting the cue flow through rather than feeling tight and powering the cue through.

All I will say is don't adjust your aim to compensate for a bit of hiccup in your technique. Get to the bottom of the underlying issue. And for that I'd find a good coach, pay £20 or so for a session and he should put your right.

Majority on here are not coaches and we all play and learn differently. I agree he shouldn't adjust his aim and mess with his technique. On most shots you are best playing for the largest margin of error and on this shot if you go centre pocket there is a chance if you hit thick that you hit the near jaw and miss. The largest margin of error is inside the far jaw as it gives the best chance of pot.

[markz]

Good point. I will start hitting the ball softer until my confidence improves.

Hi Burnpark, do many players play at the club you use? A great way to sort things like this is to approach one of the better players and ask advice. Most snooker players I've known have always been happy to spend time helping others with their game. Also a way of breaking the ice with other players and gets you a game or two.